red eve-第7节

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twenty。〃

〃A　gallantI　meanan　evil　deed；〃　broke　in　the　old　warrior　priest；
〃though　once　it　happened　to　me　in　a　place　called　Damascusbut　you
both　are　wet；　also。　Come　into　my　chamber；　I　can　furnish　you　with
garments　of　a　sort。　And；　Richard；　set　that　black　bow　of　yours　near　the
fire；　but　not　too　fire。　As　you　should　know　well；　a　damp　string　is　ill
to　draw　with。　Nay；　fear　not　to　leave　it；　this　is　sanctuary；　and　to
make　sure　I　will　lock　the　doors。〃



Half　an　hour　was　gone　by；　and　a　very　strange　company　had　gathered
round　the　big　fire　in　the　guest…chamber　of　the　Temple；　eating　with
appetite　of　such　food　as　its　scanty　larder　could　provide　for　them。
First　there　was　Red　Eve　in　a　woollen　garment；　the　Sunday　wear　of
Mother　Agnes　for　twenty　years　past　and　more；　which　reached　but　little
below　her　knees；　and　was　shaped　like　a　sack。　On　her　feet　were　no
shoes；　and　for　sole　adornment　her　curling　black　hair　fell　about　her
shoulders；　for　so　she　had　arranged　it　because　the　gown　would　not　meet
across　her　bosom。　Yet；　odd　as　it　might　be；　in　this　costume　Eve　looked
wonderfully　beautiful；　perhaps　because　it　was　so　scant　and　the
leathern　strap　about　her　waist　caused　it　to　cling　close　to　her　shapely
form。

By　her　stood　Hugh；　wearing　a　splendid　suit　of　chain　armour。　It　had
been　Sir　Andrew　Arnold's　in　his　warlike　years；　and　now　he　lent　it　to
his　godson　Hugh　because；　as　he　said；　he　had　nothing　else。　Also；　it　may
have　crossed　the　minds　of　both　of　them　that　such　mail　as　this　which
the　Saracens　had　forged；　if　somewhat　out　of　fashion；　could　still　turn
swordcuts。

Then　there　was　Grey　Dick；　whose　garments　seemed　to　consist　of　a　sack
with　holes　in　it　tied　round　him　with　a　rope；　his　quiver　of　arrows
slung　over　it　for　ornament。　He　sat　by　the　fire　on　a　stool；　oiling　his
black　bow　with　a　rind　of　the　fat　bacon　that　he　had　been　eating。

All　the　tale　had　been　told；　and　Father　Arnold　looked　very　grave
indeed。

〃I　have　known　strange　and　dreadful　stories　in　my　time；〃　he　said；　〃but
never；　I　think；　one　stranger　or　more　dreadful。　What　would　you　do　now；
godson？〃

〃Take　sanctuary　for　myself　and　Grey　Dick　because　of　the　slaying　of
John　Clavering　and　others；　and　afterward　be　married　by　you　to　Eve。〃

〃Be　married　to　the　sister　with　the　brother's　blood　upon　your　hands
without　absolution　from　the　Church　or　pardon　from　the　King；　and　you
but　a　merchant's　younger　son　and　she　to…night　one　of　the　greatest
heiresses　in　East　Anglia！　Why；　how　may　that　be？〃

〃I　blame　him　not；〃　broke　in　Eve。　〃John；　whom　I　never　loved；　strove　to
smoke　us　out　like　rats　because　he　was　in　the　pay　of　the　Norman；　my
Lord　of　Acour。　John　struck　Hugh　in　the　face　with　his　hand　and
slandered　him　with　his　tongue。　John　was　given　his　life　once；　and
afterwards　slain　in　fair　fight。　Oh；　I　say；　I　blame　him　not；　nor　shall
John's　blood　rise　between　him　and　me！〃

〃Yet　the　world　will　blame　him；　and　you；　too；　Eve；　yes；　even　those　who
love　you　both。　A　while　must　go　by；　say　a　year。　At　least　I'll　not　marry
you　at　once；　and　cannot；　if　I　would；　with　both　your　fathers　living　and
unadvised；　and　the　sheriff　waiting　at　the　gate。　Tell　me　now；　do　any
know　that　you　have　entered　here？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Dick；　looking　up　from　his　bow。　〃The　hunt　came　after　us；
but　I　hid　these　two　in　a　bush　and　led　it　away　past　Hinton　to　the
Ipswich　road；　keeping　but　just　ahead　in　the　snow　and　talking　in　three
voices。　Then　I　gave　them　the　slip　and　returned。　They'll　not　guess　that
we　have　come　to　Dunwich　for　a　while。〃

〃And　when　they　do　even　the　boldest　will　not　enter　this　holy　sanctuary
while　the　Church　has　terrors　for　men's　souls。　Yet；　here　you　must　not
stay　for　long；　lest　in　this　way　or　in　that　your　lives　pay　the　price　of
it；　or　a　bloody　feud　break　out　between　the　Claverings　of　Blythburgh
and　the　de　Cressis　of　Dunwich。　Daughter　Eve；　get　you　to　bed　with　old
Agnes。　You　are　so　weary　that　you　will　not　mind　her　snores。　To…morrow
ere　the　dawn　I'll　talk　with　you；　and；　meanwhile；　I　have　words　for
Hugh。　Nay；　have　no　fear；　the　windows　are　all　barred；　and　Archer　Dick
shall　watch　the　door。〃

Eve　went；　unwillingly　enough；　although　she　could　scarcely　walk；
flashing　a　good…night　to　her　lover　with　her　fine　eyes。　Presently　Grey
Dick　also　went　to　sleep；　like　a　dog　with　one　eye　open；　in　the　little
ante…chamber；　near　to　the　great　door。

〃Now；　Hugh；〃　said　Father　Arnold；　when　they　were　left　alone；　〃your　case
is　desperate；　for　if　you　stay　here　certainly　these　Claverings　will
have　your　blood。　Yet；　if　you　can　be　got　away　safely；　there　is　still　a
shaft　that　you　may　shoot　more　deadly　than　any　that　ever　left　Grey
Dick's　quiver。　But　yesterday　I　told　you　for　your　comfortwhen　we
spoke　of　his　wooing　of　Red　Evethat　this　Norman；　for　such　he　is；
although　his　mother　was　English　and　he　was　English　born；　is　a　traitor
to　King　Edward；　whom　he　pretends　to　serve。〃

〃Ay；　and　I　said　as　much　to　him　this　afternoon　when　he　prated　to　me　of
his　knightly　honour；　and；　though　I　had　no　time　to　take　note　of　faces；
I　thought　he　liked　it　little　who　answered　hotly　that　I　was　a　liar。〃

〃I　am　sorry；　Hugh；　it　may　put　him　on　his　guard；　or　perhaps　he'll　pay
no　heed。　At　least　the　words　are　said；　and　there's　an　end。　Now　hearken。
I　told　neither　you　nor　any　one　all　the　blackness　of　his　treachery。
Have　you　guessed　what　this　Acour　is　here　to　do？〃

〃Spy　out　the　King's　power　in　these　parts；　I　suppose。〃

〃More　than　that〃and　he　dropped　his　voice　to　a　whisper〃spy　out　a
safe　landing…place　for　fifty　thousand　Normans　upon　our　Suffolk　coast。
They　are　to　sail　hither　this　coming　summer　and　set　the　crown　of
England　upon　their　Duke　John；　who　will　hold　it　as　vassal　to　his　sire；
Philip　of　France。〃

〃God's　name！　Is　that　true？〃

〃Ay；　though　in　such　a　devil's　business　that　Name　is　best　left　out。
Look　you；　lad；　I　had　warning　from　overseas；　where；　although　I　am　now
nothing　but　a　poor　old　priest　of　a　broken　Order；　I　still　have　friends
in　high　places。　Therefore　I　watched　and　found　that　messengers　were
passing　between　Acour　and　France。　One　of　these　messengers；　a　priest；
came　a　week　ago　to　Dunwich；　and　spent　the　night　in　a　tavern　waiting
for　his　ship　to　sail　in　the　morning。　The　good　wife　who　keeps　that
tavernask　not　her　namewould　go　far　to　serve　me。　That　night　this
priest　slept　sound；　and　while　he　slept　a　letter　was　cut　from　the
lining　of　his　cassock；　and　another　without　writing　sewn　there　in　place
of　it；　so　that　he'll　never　know　the　difference　till　he　reaches　John　of
Normandy；　and　then　not　where　he　lost　it。　Stay；　you　shall　see；〃　and　he
went　to　the　wall　and　from　some　secret　place　behind　the　hangings
produced　a　writing；　which　he　handed　to　Hugh；　who　looked　at　it；　then
gave　it　back　to　him；　saying：

〃Read　it　to　me；　Father；　English　I　can　spell　out；　but　this　French
puzzles　my　eyes。〃

So　he　read；　Hugh　listening　eagerly　to　every　word：

　　My　Lord　Duke：

　　This　by　a　faithful　hand　that　you　know　to　tell　you　all　goes　well
　　with　your　Grace's　business；　and　with　that　of　your　royal　father。
　　While　pretending　to　hunt　or　hawk　I　have　found　three　places　along
　　this　seaboard　at　any　one　of　which　the　army　can　land　next　summer
　　with　little　resistance　to　fear；　for　though　the　land　is　rich　in
　　cattle　and　corn；　the　people　are　few。

　　These　places　of　which　I　have　made　survey　have　deep　water　up　to　the
　　beach。　I　will　tell　you　of　them　more　particularly　when　I　return。
　　Meanwhile　I　linger　here　for　sundry　reasons；　which　you　know；　hoping
　　to　draw　those　of　whom　you　speak　to　me　to　your　cause；　which；　God
　　aiding　me；　I　shall　do；　since　he　of　England　has　wronged　one　of　them
　　and　slighted　the　others；　so　that　they　are　bitter　against　him；　and
　　ready　to　listen　to　the　promises　which　I　make　in　your　name。

　　As　an　excuse　for　my　long　stay　that　has　caused　doubts　in　some
　　quarters；　I　speak　of　my　Suffolk　lands　which　need　my　care。　Also　I
　　court　the　daughter　of　my　host　here；　the　Knight　of　Clavering；　a
　　stubborn　Englishman　who　cannot　be　won；　but　a　man　of　great　power
　　and　repute。　This　courtship；　which　began　in　jest；　has　ended　in
　　earnest；　since　the　girl　is　very　haughty　and　beautiful；　and　as　she
　　will　not　be　played　with　I　propose；　with　your　good　leave；　to　make
　　her　my　wife。　Her　father　accepts　my　suit；　and　when　he　and　the
　　brother　are　out　of　the　way；　as　doubtless　may　happen　after　your
　　army　comes；　she　will　have　great　possessions。

　　I　thank　your　Grace　for　the　promise　of　the　wide　English　lands　of
　　which　I　spoke　to　you；　and　the　title　that　goes　with　them。　These　I
　　will　do　my　best　to　earn；　nor　will　I　ask　for　them　till　I　kneel
　　before　you　when　you　are　crowned　King　of　England　at　Westminster；　as
　　I　doubt　not　God　will　bring　about　before　this　year　is　out。　I　have
　　made　a　map　of　the　road　by　which　your　army　should　march　on　London
　　after　landing；　and　of　the　towns　to　be　sacked　upon　the　way　thither。
　　This；　however；　I　keep；　since　although　not　one　in　ten　thousand　of
　　these　English　swine　can　read　French；　or　any　other　tongue；　should
　　it　chance　to　be　lost；　all　can　understand　a　map。　Not　that　there　is
　　any　fear　of　loss；　for　who　will　meddle　with　a　priest　who　carries
　　credentials　signed　by　his　Holiness　himself。

　　I　do　homage　to　your　Grace。　This　written　with　my　hand　from
　　Blythburgh；　in　Suffolk；　on　the　twentieth　day　of　February；　1346。